| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
21° 06' South Latitude
55° 36' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
2,517 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April |
| Natural Resources |
Fish, arable land, hydropower |
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| Political Information |
 |
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| Country Name |
Department of Reunion |
| Capital City |
Saint-Denis |
| Government Type |
NA |
| Administrative Divisions |
none (overseas department of France) |
| Independence Day |
none (overseas department of France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
776,948 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Reunionese |
| Ethnic Groups |
French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995) |
| Languages |
French (official), Creole widely used |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.38% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Euro (EUR) |
| Industries |
Sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction |
| Labor Force |
309,900 (2000) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000) |
| Agriculture Products |
Sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn |
| Export Commodities |
Sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993) |
| Export Partners |
France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000) |
| Import Commodities |
Manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products |
| Import Partners |
France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
1,214 km (including 88 km of four-lane roads) (2001) |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
2 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Le Port, Pointe des Galets |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+262 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.re |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays,
and Malabar Indians, gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route. |
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